AAfCW 2021 Field Update #4

Good morning,

Once again, if you have not yet received an official DEEP ID card and/or lanyard, you will soon. No additional action is needed. The same goes for West Haven passes. Please do not go to West Haven until you receive a parking pass unless you are a resident with a parking sticker as they will ticket vehicles otherwise. 

CT DEEP and AAfCW staff are working seven days a week, dawn to dusk. Exclosing and/or additional fencing is continuing at all sites as fast as staff can complete it, and it is put up only when necessary. Piping Plover nest losses due to tides, predators, and otherwise are creating additional work each day. Destruction of fencing and/or signage due to tidal washouts and people, significant human or pet disturbances, or recreational activity within nesting areas also creates daily work across Connecticut. A handful of staff has to cover the Greenwich islands to the Rhode Island border while working only in safe land and boating weather conditions. Your observations are vital and enormously beneficial, even if they are not of birds.

Least and Common Terns are being seen more now as they form pairs and slowly build small colonies. Please review identification for these two species and report them as you do our shorebirds. The first Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher nests of 2021 have hatched in Connecticut. If you discover a new nest while monitoring please directly email: Laura.Saucier@ct.gov, rsuzf@hotmail.com, and ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. We need those direct contacts in addition to data entry for significant sightings and events like new nests. When entering data, if there are no nests, do not enter anything into the field. If you leave it untouched and blank it will be zero.

Hatchlings are extremely vulnerable to people, predators, weather, tides, and more. Please remember that we are a threat to the birds, too. Staying by the water, walking very slowly, observing all constantly and from afar with the aid of binoculars and spotting scopes - these steps help reduce our potential impact on the birds. Prioritize safety over precise data, and never enter fenced areas or approach exclosures.

The hatchlings will be seen all over the beach, foraging and freezing in place at times when frightened. It can be exceptionally difficult for experts to spot them even in good conditions. You do not need to discover and report all of the birds. Their parents will be keeping a close eye on them, and please remember to safely leave any area where you see distraction displays occurring or hear loud alarm calls. We also have warm, sunny beach weather, with more people heading to the shore. Please keep in mind we want to be positive, educate, and interact with kindness at all times.

Below are observations on our beaches as submitted from May 4 through 12:00pm yesterday, May 20. Please be aware partial surveys and negative data are received but not included in these updates.

Piping Plover:

4 pairs, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/4

10 adults, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/4

2 pairs, 2 adults, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/4

2 pairs, 7 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/4

2 pairs, 2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/4

2 pairs, 3 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/4

26 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/5

1 adult at Griswold Point on 5/6

2 pairs, 10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/6

2 pairs, 13 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/6

2 pairs, 7 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

2 pairs, 6 adults, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 5/7

3 pairs, 10 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

2 pairs, 3 adults, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/8

3 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/8

3 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/9

4 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/9

2 pairs, 6 adults, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/10

2 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/10

1 pair, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 5/10

3 pairs, 3 adult, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/11

4 pairs, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/11

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11

3 pairs, 5 adults, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/11

8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

3 pairs, 3 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/12

1 pair, 8 adults, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/12

14 adults, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/12

4 pairs, 6 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

1 pair, 3 adults at Bluff Point on 5/12

1 pair, 11 adults, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

8 pairs, 5 adults, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/13

4 pairs, 6 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/13

6 pairs, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/13

4 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/14

2 pairs, 2 adults, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/14

1 pair, 4 adults, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/16

5 adults, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/17

7 adults, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/17

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/17

3 adults at Milford Point on 5/17

14 adults, 5 nests, 6 hatchlings at Milford Point on 5/18

2 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/18

2 pairs, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/18

2 pairs, 10 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18

5 pairs, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/18

1 pair, 3 adults, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 5/18

8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

5 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/19

American Oystercatcher:

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/4

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/4

8 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/4

2 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 5/4

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/4

2 pairs, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 5/4

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/4

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/5

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/6

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/6

1 pair, 2 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/6

2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

4 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/7

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7

3 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/8

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/8

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/9

2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/9

1 adult at Bluff Point on 5/10

1 adult at Griswold Point on 5/10

1 pair, 1 adult at Long Beach on 5/11

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/11

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11

2 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 5/11

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/12

6 adults at Milford Point on 5/12

2 pairs at Bluff Point on 5/12

1 pair, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

3 pairs, 6 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/13

1 pair, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 5/13

3 pairs, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/13

2 pairs at Long Beach on 5/13

1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/14

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/14

6 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/16

4 adults at Milford Point on 5/17

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/17

1 adult at Milford Point on 5/17

4 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/18

1 pair, 2 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/18

3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/18

2 pairs at Bluff Point on 5/18

3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

1 adult at Long Beach on 5/19

Least Tern:

3 adults at Long Beach on 5/9

12 adults at Long Beach on 5/11

6 adults at Long Beach on 5/11

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11

13 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

24 adults at Milford Point on 5/12

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

20 adults at Milford Point on 5/13

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/13

2 pairs, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/13

8 adults at Long Beach on 5/13

2 pairs, 3 adults at Bluff Point on 5/14

15 adults at Long Beach on 5/16

2 pairs at Griswold Point on 5/17

9 adults at Milford Point on 5/18

16 pairs, 40 adults, 8 nests at Long Beach on 5/18

6 adults at Long Beach on 5/18

20 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18

3 pairs, 12 adults, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/18

3 adults at Bluff Point on 5/18

31 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

7 adults at Long Beach on 5/19

Common Tern:

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/5

30 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12

5 adults at Milford Point on 5/13

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/13

1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/14

1 pair, 5 adults at Milford Point on 5/17

4 adults at Milford Point on 5/17

6 adults at Milford Point on 5/18

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18

14 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

Thanks again!